CITY OF SAN FERNANDO---The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Central Luzon is reminding stakeholders of measures to attain sustainable tourism across the region.
DOT Regional Director Richard Daenos stressed that "balance" is vital to ensure that tourism sites are responsibly utilized amid the peak of tourist arrivals.
He said attaining tourism sustainability is the responsibility of both the government and private sector, including residents in communities where tourist spots are located.
"Tourism officers should have management plans where they should consider the capacity of the destinations in terms of daily tourist arrivals. Taking care of the country’s local destinations is a responsibility of the residents to ensure that the natural beauty of these places is preserved," he said.
Local government officials should create ordinances to sustain the flow of tourism by balancing it with the needs of the ecosystem.
For their part, tourists visiting the region’s destinations should also respect the beauty that the tourism hotspots could offer for an enhanced tourism experience, he added.
He added that all tourist destinations in Central Luzon should standards so that their future availability is not compromised and management of tourism destinations must focus not on profit but on environmental responsibility to create a more sustainable outlook for the industry.
“The community really has a big responsibility of taking good care of whatever it is that we have. This will allow us to see the pride of a place— what makes it more beautiful, what makes it more radiant, what makes it more visited. Responsible tourism begins within us. We get to enjoy the beaches and other places but of course, we should be responsible and aware of what’s happening in the environment and take care of it,” Daenos said.